CONSTRUCTION QUALITY ASSESSMENT SYSTEM

CONQUAS ®

INTRODUCTION

The Construction Quality Assessment System (CONQUAS ®) was introduced in

Singapore since 1989 to serve as a standard assessment system on the quality of

building projects. As defacto national yardstick for the industry, CONQUAS ® has

been periodically fine-tuned to keep pace with changes in technology and quality

demands of a more sophisticated population. In 1998, BCA introduced a number of

new features to CONQUAS ® resulting in the launch of CONQUAS ® 21. Such

refinements make CONQUAS ® scoring more comprehensive and customer

oriented.

By using CONQUAS ® as a standardized method of quality assessment, developers

are able to use the CONQUAS ® score to set targets for contractors to achieve and

also assess the quality of the finished building.

Today, CONQUAS ® is widely recognised and also accepted internationally as a

benchmarking tool for quality. Indeed, countries like UK and Hong Kong have

successfully adapted CONQUAS ® to their construction industries. CONQUAS ® is

now a registered trademark in Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong SAR, United

Kingdom, Australia, South Africa and India.

SCOPE OF CONQUAS ®

The assessment consists of 3 main components:

1. Structural Works,

2. Architectural Works

3. M&E Works.

Each component is further divided into different items for assessment. The sum of

the 3 components will give the CONQUAS ® score for the project.

The building is assessed based primarily on workmanship standards through site

inspection. The assessment is done throughout the construction process for

Structural and M&E Works and on the completed building for Architectural Works.

The assessment also includes tests on the materials and the functional performance

of selected services and installation. These tests helps to safeguard the interest of

building occupants in relation to safety, comfort and aesthetic defects, which surface

only after sometime.

CATEGORISATION OF PROJECT

In CONQUAS ®, the weightages for Structural, Architectural and M&E works are

allocated according to four categories of buildings.

Components CAT A

Commercial,

Industrial,

Institution &

Others

CAT B

Commercial,

Industrial,

Institution &

Others

CAT B

Private

Housing

CAT C

Public

Housing

(Sold

Flats)

CAT C

Public

Housing

(Rental

Flats)

CAT D

Landed

Housing

Structural

Works

20% 25% 20% 30% 40% 25%

Architectural

Works

60% 65% 70% 65% 55% 70%

M&E Works 20% 10% 10% 5% 5% 5%

CONQUAS

® Score

100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

Note: In general, projects with central cooling system having cooling tower, chiller system etc

are classified under CAT A. Otherwise, it will be classified under CAT B. Appendix 5 of

CONQUAS manual provides a guide with listing of buildings under the various categories.

The weightage system, which is aimed at making the CONQUAS ® score objective

in representing the quality of a building, is a compromise between the cost

proportions of the three components in the various buildings and their aesthetic

consideration.

The CONQUAS ® score of a building is the sum of points awarded to the three

components in each category of buildings.

SAMPLING

As it is impractical to assess all elements, CONQUAS ® uses a sampling system for

the assessment. The sampling system, which is based on the size of the building,

will ensure that the assessment adequately represents the entire building.

ASSESSMENT APPROACH

The samples shall be distributed as uniformly as possible throughout the

construction stages. The scoring will be done on the works that are inspected for the

first time. Rectification and correction carried out after the assessment will not be re-

scored. The objective of this practice is to encourage "doing things right the first

time".